Target.



PATENTED OCT. 13, 190.3.

01.5 HANSON..

TARGET.

APPR-11011111011 FILED 111,111.2. 1903.

N0 MODEL.

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atented October 13, 1903.

OLE I-IANSON, OF DALTON, MINNESOTA.

TRG ET.

SPECIFICATlON formngpartof Letters Patent No. 741,131, dated October 13, 1903.

` Application filed January 2. 1903. Serial No. 137,434. (No model.)

T0 all whom it Wray concern,.-

Be it known that I, OLE HANSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Dalton, county of Ottertail, and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Targets, of which the following is a speciiication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to targets, the object thereof being to provide an improved device of this character which comprises novel features of construction embodying a normally erect life -like object and supports therefor, the structure being so arranged and assembled as to fall backward when a given objective point thereon is struck.

The device is simple in construction, durable, and inexpensive, and it is especially applicable for training a marksman to hit a given point on an object representing a human being formed and colored to represent a soldier; but the device may also be formed to represent savages, birds, and animals, if

desired.

The invention will be hereinafter fully described, and specifically set forth in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure l is a perspective view of my improved target, showing the same in an upright position and having part thereof shown in sectional elevation; and Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the device in horizontal position, which is automatically assumed after a given objective point on the target is struck by a bullet or other missile.

In the drawings, A designates a base for supporting the target. This base is composed of a block of wood or other suitable substance, and it is of proportions sufficiently heavy to prevent lateraldisplacement of the target while in use. Thus the target may be readily moved from place to place, if desirable; but I may employ stakes, as 1, to anchor the base to the ground if heavy bullets or missiles are employed.

The object to be aimed and fired at embodies the upright figure representation B, which preferably comprises a metallic upper or body part B' and a Wooden lower part B2, which comprises the legs b and feet b', the upper or body part being so weighted that the figure will not stand in an upright position without auxiliary support. This figure B .is secured to the baseAby means of hinges C, having their lower leaves csecured to the base A and their upper leaves o fastened to the soles of the feet h' of the figure.

At a given point, preferably through the forehead of the figure representation B, is an aperture 2, which is the objective firing-point or bulls-eye of the target. A similar aperture 3 may also be formed through the body of the object, if desirable. The Iigure representation is also provided with swinging arms 4, secured to the body by means of pivots 5. These arms are respectively provided with a rearwardly-extended eye 6, which is attached to a cord 7, the lower end of which is secured forwardly of the figure to a staple 8 in the base A, whereby when the ligure drops to a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the arms will be thrown upwardly in a life-like manner. As a means for supporting the figure in an upright position, a backboard D is provided. This is of a. width narrower than the figure B, and it is extended at a slight angle forwardly to provide an efficient brace therefor. The upper end of this board engages beneath a projecting lug b2, formed at the rear of the top of the figure B, and the lower end of the board is hinged to the base A by means of the hinge D. At a point back of the aperture 2 the board D is faced by a metallic plate d to receive the impact of the bullets. A similar plate d' is employed back of the aperture 3. To keep the ligure B and the board D in connection with each other, whereby they may be simultaneously lifted up, a light spring E is employed to connect them.

In the operation and use of the invention the target is placed in upright position, as shown by Fig. l of the drawings. This position will be maintained until a marksman projects a bullet directly through one of the objective openings 2 or 3, whereupon the impact of the bullet against the supportingboard D disengages the same from the lug b2'and allows the figure and board to fall by gravity into the horizontal position, (shown by IOO Fig. 2 of the drawings,) and at the same time the ropes 7, being fastened at their lower ends forwardly of the figure, cause the arms to be thrown upwardly while the figure is falling. When the projected bullets strike the body of the target around the objective point or opening,the upright position will not be disturbed.

As before stated, the general features of my invention may be employed in various forms of targets. I therefore do not Wish to limit myself to the specific construction and relative arrangement of parts as herein shown and described, as it is obvious that under the scope of my invention I am entitled to slight modifications.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isg l. A target comprising an upright figure representation having an objective aperture, and a supporting-back therefor to be moved by the impact of a missile passing through the said aperture, substantially as shown and described.

2. A target comprising a hinged figure representation having an objective aperture therethrough, and a hinged support therefor, the support adapted to be moved by means of a missile passing through the aperture of the said figure representation, substantially as shown and described.

3. As a target, the Vcombination with the hinged figure representation having the objective aperture and the rearwardly-extended lug, of a hinged support having a metallic plate to receive the impact of missiles, substantially as shown and described.

4. As a target, the combination with the hinged figure representation having the objective aperture and the rearwardly-extended lug, and the swinging arms having the rearwardly-extended eyes, and cords for automatically operating said arms, said cords having their forward ends connected to the base, in front of the figure, and their rearward ends to the eyes of the arms, of thehinged support having the metallic surface for receiving the impact of bllets, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this 23d day ofOctober, 1902.

OLE HANSON.

Witnesses:

J. N. RvS/ANG, C. LEKMAN. 

